CDC Head Tries to Clarify Remarks About a Second Coronavirus Wave After Trump Pushes Back

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Director 👤Robert Redfield attempted to clarify his recent remarks about a second coronavirus wave as President Donald Trump brought him on stage to do so.

Redfield recently told The Washington Post regarding the coronavirus, “There’s a possibility that the assault of the virus on our nation next winter will actually be even more difficult than the one we just went through. When I’ve said this to others, they kind of put their head back, they don’t understand what I mean.”

He also told the newspaper, “We’re going to have the flu epidemic and the coronavirus epidemic at the same time.”

Though he explained that he was quoted accurately in the Post story, Redfield, as well as Trump, took up concern about the headline that the CDC chief “warns second wave of coronavirus is likely to be even more devastating.”

During Wednesday’s White House coronavirus press briefing, the president claimed that Redfield was “totally misquoted.” Trump then noted that Redfield was talking about the coronavirus and the flu “coming together at the same time” during the Post interview.

The president’s comments came after he sent a scorching tweet out on Wednesday.

Redfield also tried to clarify his remarks, saying at the press briefing, “I didn’t say that this was going to be worse. I said it was going to be more difficult and potentially more complicated because we will have flu and coronavirus circulating at the same time.”